Anglo-Chinese JC strike last-gasp equaliser to keep qualification hopes alive in A Division football

Story by Kenneth Tan/Red Sports. Pictures by Tan Jon Han/Red Sports

St Wilfrid Sports Complex, Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - Traditional powerhouse Anglo-Chinese Junior College were on the verge of suffering an early elimination in the A Division Football Championship until they struck a dramatic injury-time equaliser in the second half against Nanyang Junior College (NYJC) that kept their slim qualification hopes for the quarter-finals alive.

It was a frustrating match for ACJC who dominated large periods of the game but just could not make their chances count.

After wasting their first goalscoring opportunity on 10 minutes, they conceded the opening goal to NYJC five minutes later. From a Yap Chuen Chin long throw from the left, NYJC winger Lee Tze Yong produced a powerful header inside the box past the ACJC goalkeeper.

They could have equalised on 22 minutes when a cut-back from the left by Jonathan Neo found right winger Jim Chan free in the box. However Jim took too long to release his shot as it was blocked by the sea of NYJC defenders.

12 minutes later, Jonathan Neo broke free in the ACJC box before shooting on goal but his effort was well saved by the onrushing NYJC goalkeeper Ngo Vu Hieu at his legs.

They then squandered the last opportunity of the half on the stroke of half time. Jim Chan whipped in a teasing cross from the right into the box, however forward Philemon headed just wide of the left-hand post.

The second half continued in the same fashion with ACJC piling on the pressure on the NYJC goal. Despite being pinned back for the most of the half, NYJC's strategy of playing with five defenders worked effectively in repelling the ACJC attacks as the ball was constantly cleared away from their own penalty area.

On 54 minutes, a pull back from ACJC full back Hafiz Anuar (#22) on the left byline picked out midfielder Brenden Liang in the box, but the latter headed wide of the right-hand post.

10 minutes later, Hafiz released substitute, #30, with a superb through ball into the NYJC penalty area. However NYJC goalie Ngo Vu Hieu rushed out bravely to collect the ball at #30's feet.

ACJC continued to threaten with two successive corners in the next three minutes. An corner drilled into the area by Hafiz picked out the head of captain Trevor Lim. The header looked destined for the right-hand corner of the goal before NYJC full back Chris Gan hooked it off the line.

The resulting corner by Hafiz picked out centre back, #12, this time round but NYJC captain Muhammad Farid managed to clear the header at his right-hand post.

Then on 78 minutes, Brenden Liang fired a freekick from 30 yards just over the bar.

When a cross by Brenden Liang from the right flashed across the NYJC goal without any ACJC forwards able to make contact in the last minute of regulation time, it seemed that all their efforts will go down to drain. However there was still one last twist to the tale.

Into the third minute of injury time, ACJC substitute Felix Lee (#18) produced a snapshot inside NYJC penalty area after a cross from the left. The effort came right off the right-hand post before NYJC fullback Chris Gan attempted to hack the ball away. However his clearance bounced straight off another ACJC substitute Issac Low (#31) and into the bottom right corner of the goal.

Although the goal brought much-awaited cheers from the ACJC bench, the final whistle soon sounded with both sets of players sinking to the ground in agony.

Despite scoring the last-gasp equaliser, ACJC's qualification hopes are out of their own hands now as they will need a draw between Jurong Junior College (JJC) and Serangoon Junior College (SRJC) on Thursday to stay in the competition. Meanwhile NYJC, having finished the tournament with seven points from four games, is eliminated from the four-way fight for the second spot in Group C and will play no part in the quarter-finals.

A visibly dejected NYJC captain Muhammad Farid lamented what could have been.

"Very disappointed as we conceded the goal in the last minute," he commented. "After our goal, the coach switched me to right-back to shore up the defence and we defended really well. However we just could not hold on to the lead."

Three teams remained in the hunt for qualification for the quarter finals in Group C - ACJC, JJC and SRJC.

The next Group C game will be played on Thursday, 22 April between SRJC and JJC. A win for either team will see them progress to the quarter-finals, eliminating ACJC in the process.

Remaining Group C fixtures (Rescheduled)
Thursday, 22 April - 3pm - JJC vs SRJC - Venue: SRJC
Friday, 23 April - 3pm - RI vs ACJC - Venue: St Wilfred Sports Complex

Scorers
ACJC
Issac Low - 80' +3
NYJC
Lee Tze Yong 15'

ACJC lineup
Lester Tan (#1, GK), Jim Chan (#7), Trevor Lim (#8, captain), Jonathan Neo (#10), Khabir (#11), #12, #14, #15, Praveen Das (#21), Brenden Liang Jia Liang (#23), Philemon (#26)

EDITOR'S NOTE: If you know the names of the players, please feel free to leave the names behind in the comments section and we will update accordingly. Thanks!

NYJC lineup
Ngo Vu Hieu (#1, GK), Daniel Chan Li Yang (#8), Lee Tze Yong (#9), Saravanan s/o Alagappan (#11), Lim Yu En (#13), Chris Gan De Hao (#15), Yap Chuen Chin (#17), Brian Ng Cheow Koon (#19), Peng Shen Song (#20), Muhammad Farid bin Mokhatr (#23, captain), Rudy Swandi (#24)

Go to the SCHOOLS FIXTURES & RESULTS page for more information.

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